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C
edarville University attracts athletes from
all over the country. For family members of
these athletes, distance can make it difficult
to watch their student-athlete compete.
Fortunately, since 2011, these parents,
grandparents, and other relatives have been
able to watch sporting events online, thanks
to the Cedarville Sports Production Team.
The team is the brainchild of Jim Kragel, Associate
Professor of Communications, and comprised entirely of
broadcasting and digital media students. Two team members
are paid, while others serve as volunteers or work toward class
credit. For the last three years, this group has broadcasted
more than 60 Cedarville athletic events a season, mainly
soccer, basketball, and volleyball, with announcers, replays,
and sometimes sideline reporters.
Even on a small budget, the Sports Production Team
produces an exceptional livestreaming experience. “We have
the highest-quality broadcasts of anyone at our level,” said
Kragel. During the 2016–2017 season, the entire livestream has
been in high definition for the first time, including replays.
They also use four or five more cameras than anyone else in
the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC).
Through donor gifts, Cedarville University Athletics has
supplied equipment and helped expand the team to support
the large broadcast schedule. Originally, the team had three or
four members. Now, they have between nine and 11.
Alan Geist ’83, Cedarville’s Athletic Director, believes
livestreaming has been great public relations for Cedarville’s
athletic teams and foresees increased sponsorships as more
organizations and potential donors see the quality of the
broadcasts.
However, Geist sees the biggest impact on recruiting. That’s
because coaches can tell parents they can watch their son or
daughter online, even though they can’t always attend games
in person. “We get a lot of emails from family members,”
said Geist. “They are thrilled they can watch their loved
one play.”
Other programs in the G-MAC have taken notice. Geist
explained that Cedarville is “known within the conference
for livestreaming and livestreaming well. We owe a lot of the
quality to Jim and his team.”
Kragel emphasized the broadcasts’ excellence has more
to do with the abilities of his students than the equipment.
Cedarville Magazine
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